Civil war historian to speak
October 14, 2008 ·
“The Killer Angels” is one of the most famous books about the Civil War, and inspired the 1993 film “Gettysburg.”
In fact, many people take Michael Shaara's best-selling Civil War novel about the Battle of Gettysburg as historical fact.
But Scott Hartwig, the chief historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, says the reality of the battle is very different.
"The Killer Angels" is one of the most famous books about the Civil War, and inspired the 1993 film "Gettysburg."
In fact, many people take Michael Shaara's best-selling Civil War novel about the Battle of Gettysburg as historical fact.
But Scott Hartwig, the chief historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, says the reality of the battle is very different.
Hartwig is scheduled to talk about the pivotal 1863 battle at a 7 p.m. lecture tonight(Tuesday) at the West Virginia Cultural Center. The Kanawha Valley Civil War Roundtable is sponsoring the event, and it is free to the public.
Roundtable president Beth White explains the novel introduced readersthto the Civil War, to the Battle of Gettysburg and the men who fought there. "But it is an historic novel. It’s fiction. So, what Scott is doing is looking at how the novel has influenced perception of the Battle of Gettysburg and how that history varies from that."
White says one such different is the role Confederate General Robert E. Lee played in the battle.
"For example, Robert E. Lee is presented in the book very differently than historical accounts of Lee at Gettysburg. There’s no question that he was probably already showing signs of heart disease. But he was decisive, he was very strong at the Battle of Gettysburg. And yet, in the novel he is presented weakly."